Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-07-05


the signatures OF o. N. Harris, public
examiner and Louis K. Church, gov.
ernor,
The case has history. During the
last Legislative session new board Of
hospital trustees was appointed by the
governor and confirmed by the council.
AS members ofthis board three members
OF the previous board-two republicans
and one democrat-were appointed.
There were also appointed two new
members, both democrats. This arrange
ment gave the democrats three out of
the five members of the board. As soon
as the new board was organized il was
made the recipient of applications from
prominent local democrats for the
positions at the hospital within the gift
of the board, more especially the
positions of superintendent, assistant
superintendent and steward. The
board of trustees was asked to dismiss
the three republican incrmbents and
install democrats in their places.
Two of the democratic members
of the board--Messrs Lewis and Brown
were willing to do this. The two res
publican members ef the board--Messrs
Powers and Williams-declined to coun-
tenance any proposition for change in
the hospital management, and the fifth
member of the board, Mr.. Van Tsssel, o
democrat, endorsed sheir conclusions.
The three trustees who were opposed TO
to the removal of the managing officers
of the institution had all been members
oS. the previous board OF trustees and had
learned by experience that it was difficult
to secure the right sort of men to man.
age the Institution, and had learned
further that after many years of trial
the hospital was finally under manage
ment which was conducting its affairs
with marked ability and success. So the
three trustees stood firm in their de-
Termination to make no changes at the
hospital, the democratic member OF the
trio, Mr.. Van Tassell, permitting hls
business judgment and the good of the
institution to outweigh his partisanship.
AS soon as the combination of demo.
Gratis who were deslrous OF securing the
positions at the hospital ascertained
that majority of the board positively
refused to make any changes at the
hospital they prepared and filed . set of
charges against the previous board Of
hospital trustees, of which
Meesrs, Powers, Williams and Van
Tassel were members. These were the
three members of the present board who
had declined to yield to the demand OF
the combination for positions. Their
charges involved Mr.. Colby, also q
member and secretary Of the old board,
but not member of the present board
In response to their representations
the governor sent member Of his cabi-
net to Yankton to investigate. While
here he informed member of the board
of trustees that there was nothing wrong
in the hospital management, but that the
democrats were on top now and they
must have the places.
After mis- departure, in due course OF
time, came the public examiner, who in
stituted and carried out an ex pRrte ex-
animation, sitting with closed doors and
receiving the testimony of the authors
of the charges and their personal and
partisan friends. The newspapers PRO
tested SO vehemently against this stal
chamber proceeding that it was aban-
doned, the testimony relegated to the
| waste basket and the contemplated dam.
aging report remained unwritten.
After another interval the public ex-
aminer and the attorney general opened
court in Yankton, summoned witnesses
took testimony and permitted the mem
bers Of the board to be present in person
and by attorney and to question the wit
nesses. They introduced no testimony
in rebuttal or in their own behalf. Thu
concluded the third proceeding.
Nothing having been found in the way
of hoped for peeulatlon by the demo o.
cratic Investigating board, two commit
tees of csmocratic experts were EN-
ployed to go to the hospital and figure
upon the probable cost OF improvements
there made by Mr.. Colby, OF the ole
board OF trustees. With their work th.
Investigation ended.
After long and somewhat painfu
silence the public examiner and She
governor have made their reports upo,
the case, giving these reports simulta
neousiy to the Bismarck papers, the ST
Paul papers and the Sioux Falls Argus
Leader and notifying the Yankton Her.
aid in season for it to procure an early
copy OF the publication and issue
Sunday morning extra with startling
headlines.
In these headlines occurs the state
ment that Mr.. Colby is shorI in his ac
counts as secretary of the former board
4 OF trustees In the sum of S5,400.83
The text of the reports does not sustain
the. allegation OF the headlines, It il
nowhere charged in tue rsportsAhat Mr.
Colby is short in any sum. 1t is statet
that the two democratic expert commit
\ tees estimate that he may have claimed
4 IN haua oynana.l ~,o.n -, 4.